Regional Trauma Program

Hamilton Health Sciences supports two regional trauma centres. The Hamilton General Hospital provides care for adult trauma patients and McMaster Children’s Hospital provides pediatric trauma care.

As tertiary trauma centres, the trauma program assumes a leadership role in the development, evaluation and continuous quality improvement of care for the Central South region. The trauma program is committed to evidence-based, patient-centred care; trauma-related education and research; and injury prevention.

The program collects and analyzes internal, regional and provincial data to report, monitor and optimize patient care and system development.

Care we provide

  • Trauma resuscitation
  • Trauma surgery
  • Trauma follow-up clinic
  • Trauma registry

ATLS®

The American College of Surgeons (ACS), Committee on Trauma has developed the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS®) course for doctors and other qualified heath care professionals. The course offers a systemic approach to the early and immediate management of patients with traumatic injuries.

ACS – Trauma Education: About Advanced Trauma Life Support

The 1.5-day hybrid provider course is open to Physicians, Physicians Assistants, and Nurse Practitioners. At this time, HHS is not offering the auditing option of the ATLS® course for other providers.

To qualify to take the refresher ATLS course, you must have taken an ATLS course within the last four years, and your certification must be no more than 180 days expired.

This course will take place at the Hamilton General Hospital, 237 Barton St. E., Hamilton, Ontario.

Learning objectives – ATLS® provider course:

Participants will learn to identify injuries associated with major trauma, management of skills required for early resuscitation, and treatment of injured patients.

The ATLS© course provides its participants with a safe and reliable method for the immediate treatment of injured patients and the basic knowledge necessary to:

  • Assess a patient’s condition rapidly and accurately.
  • Resuscitate and stabilize patients according to priority.
  • Determine whether a patient’s needs exceed a facility’s resources and/or a doctor’s capabilities.
  • Arrange appropriately for a patient’s inter-hospital or intra-hospital transfer (what, who, when, and how).
  • Ensure that optimal care provided and level of care does not deteriorate at any point during the evaluation, resuscitation, or transfer processes.

2024 course dates and description:

April 27, 2024 – ATLS Recertification Course

June 14 and 15, 2024 – ATLS Hybrid Student Course

August 15 and 16, 2024 – ATLS Hybrid Student Course

September 19 and 20, 2024 – ATLS Hybrid Student Course

October 18, 2024 – ATLS Recertification Course

November 15 and 16, 2024 – ATLS Hybrid Student Course

December 13 and 14, 2024 – ATLS Hybrid Student Course

Visit this link to register for the above dates: https://hhsf.akaraisin.com/ui/ATLS

For general inquires, please contact ATLS@HHSC.ca. Please allow 1-2 business days for a response.

Conferences

Focus on Trauma Conferences

2024 Focus on Trauma Conference to be determined.